INTRODUCTION

Relevance of the Theme

The Cohesion Elements are key pieces in the structuring of the text. They function to connect the presented ideas and ensure textual cohesion, that is, the coherent connection between parts of the text. Without them, the text becomes fragmented and difficult to understand. Understanding and identifying these elements strengthens reading and text production skills, facilitating the expression of ideas in a coherent and fluid manner.

Contextualization

Within the Portuguese Language curriculum, the Cohesion Elements are part of the structuring axis of communicative competence. Such competence is not limited to grammar, but also encompasses knowledge about the functioning of language in different communicative situations. Thus, studying these elements contributes not only to the improvement of writing but also to the enhancement of reading and text interpretation.

In the didactic sequence, the theme is directly related to the analysis of textual structure, since these elements are precisely responsible for maintaining the connection between parts of the text. They are the "glue" that binds ideas and topics, allowing the construction of a cohesive and coherent discourse. Therefore, before working on the internal structure of a text, it is necessary to master and understand these elements.

THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT

Components

• Textual Cohesion: It is one of the pillars of textual organization. It involves the chaining of ideas, ensuring the unity and coherence of the text. Cohesion is achieved with the use of cohesion elements, such as pronouns, conjunctions, adverbs, among others. It is distinguished, thus, from coherence, which concerns the relationship of meaning between parts of the text.

• Referential Cohesion: A type of cohesion established by referring back to elements already presented in the text, avoiding unnecessary repetitions. By using pronouns, nouns, numerals, articles, among others, we make use of referential cohesion.

• Sequential Cohesion: Refers to the temporal or logical organization of ideas. It is established through adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and expressions that indicate cause, consequence, opposition, condition, among others.

• Lexical Cohesion: Involves the connection between words or expressions in the text. It is established through synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, repetitions, among other linguistic resources.

Key Terms

• Anaphoric and Cataphoric Pronouns: These are pronouns that refer back to terms already mentioned (anaphoric) or anticipate terms to be mentioned (cataphoric), contributing to referential cohesion.

• Conjunctions: These are invariable words that connect two clauses or two terms of the same function in the clause. They establish sequential cohesion, indicating different relationships between parts of the text (time, cause, condition, opposition, etc.).

• Adverbs: Words that modify the verb, the adjective, or the adverb itself, expressing circumstances. They are also responsible for sequential cohesion, contributing to the temporal or logical organization of ideas in the text.

Examples and Cases

• Referential Cohesion: In the text "John arrived late. He went to the doctor", the pronoun "he" refers back to the term "John", avoiding the repetition of the name.

• Sequential Cohesion: In the text "The rain was heavy, therefore, the test was postponed", the conjunction "therefore" establishes the logical relationship of consequence between the two clauses.

• Lexical Cohesion: In the text "Joana likes chocolate ice cream. She eats it every day", the word "ice cream" is referred back to by the pronoun "it", establishing lexical cohesion.

DETAILED SUMMARY

Relevant Points

• Textual Cohesion: It is the logical connection between parts of the text, giving it unity. This aspect is crucial in the construction of a text. Cohesion is ensured by cohesion elements, such as pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions, among others.

• Referential Cohesion: It is a type of cohesion that occurs through the referral back to elements already mentioned in the text. Referential cohesion avoids repetitions and makes the text more fluid and understandable. The correct use of pronouns, nouns, numerals, articles, among others, contributes to referential cohesion.

• Sequential Cohesion: Involves the temporal or logical organization of ideas in the text. This type of cohesion is established by adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and expressions that indicate cause, consequence, opposition, condition, among others.

• Lexical Cohesion: It is directly related to the semantics of words. It involves the connection between words or expressions in the text and is established through synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, repetitions, among other linguistic resources.

Conclusions

• Mastery of Cohesion Elements is essential for the construction of a coherent and cohesive text. These elements are responsible for uniting ideas in the text, ensuring its integrity and clarity.

• Referential, sequential, and lexical cohesion are fundamental in the construction of a well-structured text. Knowledge and proper use of pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions, among others, enable these types of cohesion.

• Familiarity with Cohesion Elements is not limited to reading, but also to text production. The correct use of these elements enhances not only writing skills but also reading and interpretation skills.

Exercises

1. Identify and classify the Cohesion Elements present in the following paragraph: "The players trained exhaustively. Despite this, the team did not achieve the expected result. Therefore, new strategies will be adopted for the next championship."

2. Rewrite the following paragraph using the correct Cohesion Elements: "I studied a lot for the test. I got a great grade. I was very happy."

3. Write a text of at least 5 lines on a subject of your choice. In the text, use at least one example of Referential Cohesion, Sequential Cohesion, and Lexical Cohesion appropriately.